Turnbuckle load indicator

ABSTRACT

A load indicator for a spring loaded tensioning device. The indicator comprises an o-ring displaceable along a spring loaded tensionable shaft in a turnbuckle device. When the turnbuckle is unloaded, the indicator device is placed in a known position relative to an indicating mark. When the turnbuckle is loaded, the load causes the load indicator to be displaced a known distance for a known load on the spring loaded turnbuckle. For camper tie-downs, a displacement of about one-quarter inch is desirable for a load of about 300 pounds tension.

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional and claims priority from allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/123,837 filed May 5, 2005, assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,237,977, to be issued Jul. 3, 2007 entitled TURNBUCKLE LOAD INDICATOR, which application is a continuation in part from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/015,177, filed Dec. 17, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,907 entitled SPRING LOADED TURNBUCKLE WITH QUICK DISCONNECT, which claimed priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/549,323, filed Mar. 1, 2004, entitled SPRING LOADED TURNBUCKLE WITH QUICK DISCONNECT, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, including the specification, drawings and claims of each application.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The patent owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of turnbuckles, and more particularly, to quickly releasable turnbuckle devices.

BACKGROUND

Turnbuckles have been used for many years, and various versions have long provided their unique attributes for various tasks where it was desired to tighten the connection between two anchor points. In various turnbuckle designs, the use of a spring has been adapted to include a way to assure tensioning when for some reason the distance between the two anchor points might change or periodically vary to some limited extent. One situation where adjustable tensioning devices are desirable are those applications where loads are situated on transport vehicles, such as trucks. Many different types of turnbuckles for tensioning connections between loads and transport vehicles, or less commonly, between stationary objects and secure anchor points, are in use today.

Especially in the case of securing loads such as truck campers to pickup truck bodies, or loads to other transport vehicles, it would be a distinct and important improvement to provide a spring loaded tensioning device which is quickly and easily secured between selected anchor points, and with respect to which adequacy of the tension load could be quickly determined. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide a design which can be quickly released from between anchor points, thus allowing the tensioning device to be easily removed, and the loading tested and evaluated. Thus, the important advantages of a product providing such desirable features in a workable tensioning apparatus can be readily appreciated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In order to enable the reader to attain a more complete appreciation of the invention, and of the novel features and the advantages thereof, attention is directed to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spring loaded turnbuckle device with a pivotable quick release handle, configured for securing a first or upper hook, and showing the use of a tubular member in which a spring loaded threaded rod having a second or lower hook is utilized.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a spring loaded turnbuckle with a pivotable quick release handle similar to the view just illustrated in FIG. 1 above, but now showing in hidden lines the details of pivotal attachment of the upper attachment device or hook.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a spring loaded turnbuckle device, similar to the view showing in FIG. 1 above, but now additionally showing use of a locking pin with spring loaded catch, as well as in hidden lines, the locking pin when removed.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of an upper attachment device, showing the upper end with an attachment feature or hook, and a lower end sized and shaped to accommodate a pivot pin therethrough, with washers adjacent along the pivot axis for ease of movement.

FIG. 5 is a partially cut away side view of an adjustable turnbuckle, showing the spring length at a first position with no load on the lower hook, and indicating with reference lines only the spring length when compressed as if a load had been placed on the lower hook.

FIG. 6 is a partially cut away side view of an adjustable turnbuckle, showing the compressed spring length at a second position when a load is placed on the lower hook.

FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the spring loaded turnbuckle, and illustrates the device in an open position, before closing the handle and securing the turnbuckle.

FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of the spring loaded turnbuckle just illustrated in FIG. 7 above, and shows the handle having been moved partially toward the closed position.

FIG. 9 shows the operation of the turnbuckle just illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 above, now showing the handle fully closed, ready to accept a locking pin, as illustrated in FIG. 3 above.

FIG. 10 illustrates the use of a moveable load indicating device such as an o-ring as a gauge to set spring tension in a turnbuckle, with the o-ring shown in the unloaded position flush against a bottom plug.

FIG. 11 illustrates one step in the installation of a turnbuckle with moveable load indicating device such as an o-ring, where the threaded hook is positioned and adjusted until the bottom of the threaded hook is about one-half inch above the tie-down anchor on a truck camper tie-down.

FIG. 12 is a close up view of a threaded hook on a loaded turnbuckle, with the moveable load indicating device such as an o-ring shown displaced from the bottom plug about one-quarter of an inch, to provide a reliable indicator of a selected loading on the threaded hook, such as about 300 pounds tension.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a quick disconnect turnbuckle with moveable load indicating device such as an o-ring, showing the turnbuckle in a closed, load securing position exerting a preselected amount of tension between anchor points.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a quick disconnect turnbuckle showing the use of a wrench to hold a lock nut in place on the end of a threaded rod, during installation.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a quick disconnect turnbuckle, showing a locking nut such as a Nylock type nut installed on the end of a threaded rod, as well as the use of an internal o-ring between the lower end of the locking nut and an adjustable caged square nut better seen in FIGS. 16 and 17.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a quick disconnect turnbuckle, showing an adjustable caged square nut as well as a locking nut at the end of a tensionable threaded rod.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a quick disconnect turnbuckle, showing an adjustable caged square nut on a tensionable threaded rod before it is lowered into its caged position.

The foregoing figures, being merely exemplary, contain various elements that may be present or omitted from actual implementations depending upon the circumstances. An attempt has been made to draw the figures in a way that illustrates at least those elements that are significant for an understanding of the various embodiments and aspects of the invention. However, various other elements of a load indicator for a spring loaded turnbuckle device, especially as applied for different variations of the functional components illustrated, as well as different embodiments of artistic elements such as a handle design, may be utilized in order to provide a robust spring loaded turnbuckle device with quick disconnect capability having a load indicator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a spring loaded turnbuckle device 20 is provided. The device includes an elongated structural member 22 extending along a longitudinal axis 21. (see centerline C_(L), also). In one embodiment the elongated member 22 can be provided in the form of a square tubular member (which, for purposes of the claims of this patent, such square tubular member shall be considered to be expanded in definition to take in not only include the aforementioned square cross-sectional shape, but also a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and, as well (in solid form) any parallelepiped having a hollow center portion). The elongated member 22 in the form of a tubular member as indicated in FIG. 1 includes exterior sidewalls 23, a bottom (partial) plug 24, an elongated rod 28 and in one embodiment having threads 29, and an attachment feature at the lower end 30 such as hook 31.

As better seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, an adjustment nut 32 is adjustably secured to threaded portion of elongated rod 28 at a suitable location to cage a compression spring 34 against bottom end stop 36. Accordingly, the adjustment nut 32 is dimensioned for interference anti-rotation fit within the interior walls 58 of elongated member 22. In one embodiment, bottom stop 36 is securely fixed within an indented portion 38 of innerwalls 58 of the elongated square tubular structure 22.

The elongated member 22 has an upper or first end 40 and a second or lower end 42. The bottom or end stop 36 is located at or spaced apart at least some distance from the second or lower end 42. The bottom end stop 36 has a passageway therethrough defined by throughwall portions 44, for accommodating in reciprocating fashion the rod 28, and usually (but not necessarily) along threaded upper portion 29 of rod 28.

A compression spring 34 is provided alongside or adjacent rod 28, which in one embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the compression spring 34 may be centered around and/or encircle at least some of the upper portion of the rod 28. In any event, the compression spring 34 is disposed adjacent a portion of the rod 28, including in some embodiments, adjacent a threaded portion 29 of rod 28. Compression spring 34 has a lower end 50 situated for compression against the bottom end stop 36 located within the elongated member 22.

An adjustment nut 32 is threadably engaged with the upper portion 54 of threaded portion 29 of rod 28 in a manner which provides a retaining surface 56 below adjustment nut 32, so as to secure the compression spring 34 downwardly therefrom. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the adjustment nut 32 is caged or secureable against interior walls 58 of elongated member 22 rotation when the threaded rod 28 is rotated with respect to the elongated member 22.

A pivot housing 60 is provided secured to the elongated member 22, and as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, is secured at or adjacent the upper end 40 of elongated member 22. A pivotable handle 62 is pivotably secured to the pivot housing 60 along a first pivot axis 64 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). First 66 and in one embodiment second 68 pivot pins are disposed along first pivot axis 64 to pivotally connect the pivot handle 62 with the pivot housing 60. An upper attachment device 70 having an upper end 72 with an attachment feature such as a hook 74 is provided. The upper attachment device 70 has a lower end 76 pivotally affixed to the pivotable handle 62 along a second pivot axis 78, using hook pivot pin 80 (see FIG. 4). As can be appreciated by review of FIG. 7, the lower end 76 of the upper attachment device 70 is displaceable arcuately along arc indicated by reference numeral 82 in a direction outward from the elongated member 22 and thus increasing the distance between the second pivot axis 78 and the lower end 42 of the elongated member 22, when the pivotable handle 62 is moved toward a first, open position 90 as seen in FIG. 7. The lower end 76 of the upper attachment device 70 is displaceable arcuately 82 in a direction inward toward a the elongated member 22 and decreasing the distance between the second pivot axis 78 and the second end 42 of elongated member 22 when the pivotable handle 62 is moved toward a second, closed position 92 as indicated in FIG. 9. As can be seen by comparison of FIGS. 7 and 9, in one embodiment, an “over centered” configuration is utilized so that the turnbuckle handle 62 will be stable in a closed position 92, since when in the closed position 92, the first pivot axis 64 and the second pivot axis 78 are not centered along the longitudinal axis of elongated member 22. Rather, the second pivot axis 78 is offset rearward from the first pivot axis 64 by a preselected offset distance of D_(o) as indicated in FIG. 7.

At or near the upper end 100 of rod 28, a stop 100 may be provided. As indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a nut 102 may be utilized as a stop, and in one embodiment, a locking type nut 102 threadably secured to the upper threaded portion of the rod 28.

It is convenient to provide the pivot housing 60 with first 110 and second 112 frame members, and in one embodiment, a back 114. If desired, first 110, second 112, and back 114 frame members can be provided in a unitary, one-piece configuration. Also, to make a compact and protectable turnbuckle, the pivotable handle 62 can be provided in an embodiment wherein a wishbone shaped upper end 116 is provided having opposing third 120 and fourth 124 frame members. As illustrated, the first 110 and third 120 frame members are pivotally secured one to the other by a first handle pivot pin 66. The second 112 and fourth 124 frame members are pivotally secured one to the other by a second handle pivot pin 68. As earlier noted, the first 66 and second 68 handle pivot pins are located along a common axis of rotation 64. For the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the common axis of rotation 64 is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member 22.

For one embodiment shown, the lower end 76 of upper attachment device 70 is pivotally affixed to pivotable handle 62 at a second pivot 78 axis extending between the third 120 and fourth 124 frame members, by pivot pin 80, and between washers W. The second pivot axis 78 is parallel to the common axis of rotation 64 of first 66 and second 68 handle pivot pins. As shown, the second pivot axis 78 and the common axis of rotation 64 are centered by a spaced apart selected distance D_(p). For small turnbuckles as might be useful for attachment between pickup trucks and campers, a center to center pivot distance D_(p) of at least one inch can be utilized. More preferably, the preselected center to center spaced apart distance D_(p) is about one and one-half inches.

In order to provide security, or use of locks, the first frame 110 and second frame 112 have first 130 and second 132 frame apertures therethrough defined by first frame aperture throughwalls 134 and second frame aperture throughwalls 136, respectively. First 130 and second 134 frame apertures are aligned along a common aperture axis 140 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member 22.

The third 120 and said fourth 124 frames have third 142 and fourth 144 frame apertures therethrough defined by third frame aperture throughwall 146 and fourth frame aperture throughwall 148, respectively. The first 130, second 134, third 142, and fourth 144 frame apertures are aligned along a common axis 140 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member 22.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a locking pin 150 can be provided to secure turnbuckle 20 in a closed position. The locking pin 150 is sized and shaped for releasable mating engagement through the said first 130, second 134, third 142, and fourth 144 frame apertures and thus with the first 110, second 112, third 120, and fourth 124 frames. In this manner, when the said pivotable handle 62 is placed in the second, closed position 92, the first 130, second 134, third 142, and fourth 144 frame apertures are in alignment along axis 140. The locking pin 150 has a head 152, a shaft portion 154, and a distal end 156. A generally U-shaped spring catch 158 is provided pivotally affixed to the head portion 152. The catch 158 includes a bootstrap end portion 159 which is releasably spring latchable over the distal end 156 of the locking pin 150. In one embodiment, the shaft portion 154 of the locking pin 150 is cylindrical in shape. In such a case, the first 130, second 134, third 142, and fourth 144 apertures are provided in complementary size and shape for close fitting mating engagement.

The pivotable handle 62 may be provided with an upper end having a wishbone shape 116 with outwardly extending opposing frame members 120 and 124. The upper attachment device 70 is thus pivotally secured between frame members 120 and 124 via pivot pin 80. Pivotable handle 62 may include a functional as well as decorative grip end portion 160. The size and shape of the grip end portion is configured for the fitting of at least some of a user's fingers therethrough. In one embodiment, for example as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the grip end portion 160 may include a lever portion 162 and a trigger portion 164. Then, the lever portion 162 is sized and shaped for fitting of a plurality of a user's fingers therethrough. More fundamentally, the functional shape of the grip end portion 160 may be provided in a rifle handle and trigger lock configuration as seen in FIG. 9. Such a configuration provides for ease of use; however, other pivotable handle 62 configurations may be provided.

The elongated member 22 may be provided in a stainless steel material, and of a tubular stainless steel, such as a square tubular stainless steel part, to virtually eliminate rusting. For enhancing the look of a turnbuckle 20 when installed on a vehicle, the turnbuckle may be painted with a rust resistant powder coated finish in a selected color.

For additional weather protection, the upper end 40 of elongated member 22, when provided in tubular configuration, may be provided with a plug 161 to effectively seal the upper or first end 40 of the tubular member against the weather.

As seen in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13, an external o-ring 170 may be used as a gauge to set the spring tension in the turnbuckle device. As shown in FIG. 10, when the turnbuckle is unloaded, the o-ring 170 is adjusted up to a flush position against the bottom plug of the elongated tubular housing of the turnbuckle. Thus, the bottom plug serves as an unloaded position indicator for the o-ring. In this unloaded position, the turnbuckle is unloaded, as indicated in FIG. 8, for example. Then, locking the lever down as shown in FIGS. 9 and 13 should result in the o-ring being spaced downward to approximately one-quarter of an inch below the starting position relative to the plug at the bottom of the body of the turnbuckle (or other indicating position, if used). For camper tie-down purposes, a loading on the turnbuckle spring of about 300 pounds tension is desirable for many applications, and such loading should give the indicated one-quarter inch of displacement of the moveable load indicating device, i.e. the o-ring or other device. For most purposes, it is handy if the o-ring is sized and shaped for close fitting engagement around the lower attachment feature, indicated as threaded lower attachment feature 29 in FIG. 8. For most purposes a load indicating device comprising a resilient flexible rubberlike material is desirable.

Also, the apparatus just described is useful in a method for indicating the load on turnbuckles, wherein the a turnbuckle having a spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft is provided, the said shaft having an unloaded position relative to an indicating position. The a moveable load indicating device such as an o-ring is provided on a said spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft of a turnbuckle. Before loading the turnbuckle, the load indicating device is moved to a turnbuckle unloaded position. Then, the turnbuckle is loaded. Then, the distance between the position of the load indicating device is observed, with respect to the turnbuckle loaded and unloaded positions. For use in camper tie-downs, the spring loading on a spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft is such that when said displaceable shaft is loaded to about 300 pounds tension, said load indicating device moves a distance L_(D) about one quarter of an inch from the position of said load indicating device when said turnbuckle is unloaded.

It is to be appreciated that the various aspects and embodiments of a spring loaded quick disconnect turnbuckle device as described herein are an important improvement in the state of the art. The spring loaded quick disconnect turnbuckle is simple, robust, reliable, and susceptible to use in a variety of applications. Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail, various details are sufficiently set forth in the drawings and in the specification provided herein to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention(s), which need not be further described by additional writing in this detailed description.

Importantly, the aspects and embodiments described and claimed herein may be modified from those shown without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided by this invention, and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. As such, this disclosure is intended to cover the structures described herein and not only structural equivalents thereof, but also equivalent structures. Numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. 

1. A load indicating method for turnbuckles, comprising: providing a turnbuckle having a spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft, said shaft having an unloaded position relative to an indicating position; providing a manually adjustable load indicating device on said spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft; moving said load indicating device to a turnbuckle unloaded position while said turnbuckle is unloaded; loading said turnbuckle; observing the distance of said moveable load indicating device when said turnbuckle is loaded, from said position of said load indicating device when said turnbuckle is unloaded.
 2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said moveable load indicating device comprises an o-ring.
 3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein spring loading on said spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft is such that when said displaceable shaft is loaded to about 300 pounds tension, said load indicating device moves about one quarter of an inch from the position of said load indicating device when said turnbuckle is unloaded.
 4. A load indicating method for turnbuckles, comprising: providing a turnbuckle having a spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft, said spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft having an unloaded position; providing a load indicating device on said spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft, said load indicating device manually moveable with respect to said linearly displaceable shaft; manually moving said load indicating device relative to said shaft, to place said load indicating device at a turnbuckle unloaded position; loading said turnbuckle; observing the distance of said moveable load indicating device when said turnbuckle is loaded, from said position of said load indicating device when said turnbuckle was unloaded.
 5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said manually moveable load indicating device comprises an o-ring.
 6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein spring loading on said spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft is such that when said displaceable shaft is loaded to about 300 pounds tension, said load indicating device moves about one quarter of an inch from the position of said load indicating device when said turnbuckle is unloaded, as a result of movement of said linearly displaceable shaft when said turnbuckle is loaded.
 7. The method as set forth in claim 1, or in claim 4, wherein said linearly displaceable shaft comprises an externally exposed lower attachment feature.
 8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said externally exposed lower attachment feature comprises threads.
 9. The method as set forth in claim 2 or in claim 5, wherein said linearly displaceable shaft comprises an externally exposed lower attachment feature, and wherein said o-ring is externally positioned in plain view around said externally exposed lower attachment feature.
 10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said externally exposed lower attachment feature comprises threads.
 11. The method as set forth in claim 1, or in claim 4, wherein said moveable load indicating device is mounted on said spring loaded linearly displaceable shaft at an externally exposed position, wherein said moveable load indicating device is always observable by a turnbuckle user. 